subdivision
UK: ˌsʌbdɪˈvɪʒən | US: ˌsʌbdɪˈvɪʒən
n. 1. The act or process of dividing something into smaller parts.
n. 2. A smaller part or section of a larger whole, especially in land or property.
n. 3. (Biology) A taxonomic category ranking below a division in botany or zoology.
The word "subdivision" originates from Latin roots. The prefix "sub-" (meaning "under" or "below") combines with "division," derived from the Latin "divisio" (from "dividere," meaning "to divide"). The term evolved in Middle English to describe the act of dividing something into smaller sections, particularly in contexts like land development or biological classification. The logic is straightforward: a "subdivision" is a division that exists beneath or within a larger division.
The city approved plans for a new housing subdivision on the outskirts of town.
In biology, a subspecies is a subdivision of a species.
The subdivision of tasks among team members improved efficiency.
The land was marked for subdivision into smaller plots.
The book’s subdivision into chapters makes it easier to navigate.